Hole in the heart advice please

[bruce2000]

Hello, I am 57 years old and about to have open heart surgery for a hole in my heart since birth. My operation date is in about 2 weeks. I am not as fit as I could be and overweight so that is making me more anxious as all the 'proper' websites say this can cause complications. Since diagnosis I have tried to get fitter and lose some weight but I still am overweight. Has anyone been in a similar position.

I also wonder if anyone has any advice on flying as I have a wedding in Switzerland about 9 weeks after the operation and wonder if i can fly then. I only just found out about the wedding so not had a chance to ask the Doctor.

Final question is on going to the gym as I have read conflicting advice about going to a gym post op (after suitable time) some places seem to say you can never do certain exercises again mainly with arms.

Any advice or experiences greatly appreciated.♥️

[PadThaiNoodles]

I'm currently finishing up cardiac rehab following double valve surgery last autumn. Most of us use all the gym machines; the exception is a woman that has a pacemaker.

9 weeks for flying is possible, but probably a little tight to do it comfortably. I think I'd have been happy to do it after 12 or 16 weeks, but I probably would have said "no" after 9.

[bruce2000 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Thank you - friends have now offered to drive me over might be easier and also can wait to see how I feel

[happyrosie1]

as far as flying goes - if you have travel insurance im place already then please have a look at the small print to ensure they cover you.

If you don’t have any travel insurance already I doubt whether insurers would be willing to cover you.

You probably have a European health card but this only covers health treatment in the foreign country - if you had to be repatriated then this is very expensive.

[Bumpitybump]

Hi Bruce2000, I do empathise regarding weight, but guess surgery would not be offered unless you were a suitable candidate. I would ask advice on exercise post your op, see what the experts say. A friend of mine flew to South Africa six weeks post mitral valve replacement but I think it proved a bit ambitious but he did coped. Are you able to wait and see how you feel? Hopefully wedding not at altitude, that always makes everything rather exhausting for me. Sounds like you have waited a long time for this to happen. Best of luck.

[bruce2000 in reply to Bumpitybump]

Thank you - friends have offered to drive me over which gives bit more flexibility I think and maybe less stress

[LadyZ13]

Hello! I had OHS for an ASD closure in summer 2023. I was back at work at 8 weeks but not sure I'd have wanted to fly - that said, my recovery wasn't the smoothest as I went into Atrial Flutter and had to wait until September for a cardioversion. I think provisionally hope to be able to attend but manage expectations in case you're not ready at 9 weeks.

As for the gym, I started cardiac rehab in the autumn with the hospital and then with a private rehab group which helped build my confidence. I had always been fit and a regular gym goer. I started couch to 5k in November to build running back up, and by January I rejoined my gym to participate in classes where I could go at my own pace. By the end of 2024 (18 months later) I was running a new PB on 5km and I have just completed a competition in the gym with lifting, cardio, sled pulls, burpees etc. OHS means you take a break to recover, not that you have to give up on your old life!

If it helps, I kept a blog of my whole ASD journey, from diagnosis through the surgery and recover in blow by blow detail! The link is in my biog if that is something you'd like to read.

Good luck, and keep us posted.